Ranking the Spurs' five most exciting rivalries next season

The Spurs have no shortage of nemeses going into next season. As the reigning Western Conference Champions with a long history of winning, that's to be expected; there will always be a handful of teams gunning for their position. But, obviously, some rivalries hold more weight than others.

San Antonio's foes put in a lot of work this summer to bolster their rosters, so things could get interesting when they match up. Here's a ranking of their top five most exciting rivalries headed into next season

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Spurs currently have the upper hand on this division rival after sweeping their regular-season series. But Dallas' roster is a lot more fleshed out now. Kyrie Irving will be back and healthy, and this team has a ton of depth on the wing and interior.

But the most interesting part of this rivalry is the dynamic between Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama. They're two of the best under-25 players in the league, with Wemby finishing top three in MVP voting and Flagg winning Rookie of the Year last season. They'll see each other plenty of times in the 2026-27 campaign, and their battles should be pure cinema.

4. Houston Rockets

Houston is another big division rival of the Spurs. Similar to Dallas, they had a tough time against the Western Conference Champions last season, losing their regular-season series 3-1.

But the Rockets should make things more interesting next season. Their perimeter defense will be even tougher after signing Marcus Smart to a two-year deal, joining him with the likes of Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet. Additionally, they have a strong interior front that will be fun to watch battle against San Antonio's.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

Something's brewing between the Timberwolves and the Spurs. These two teams played three times last season, with Minnesota winning the series 2-1. But San Antonio got their revenge in the playoffs, beating them in six games in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Wolves are bringing something different to this battle next season. For the first time, Anthony Edwards has an All-Star-caliber backcourt mate. LaMelo Ball could help boost Minnesota's scoring attack with his playmaking and three-point shooting, forcing the Spurs to guard them a bit differently than they're used to.

2. New York Knicks

The Spurs have a lot to prove against the Knicks. They lost to them in the NBA Cup and the Finals, so they'll have a chip on their shoulder during their two matchups in the 2026-27 season.

Victor Wembanyama will have a chance to show off his offensive improvements against a Knicks defense that exposed his weaknesses the most. How will he approach scoring against their frontcourt defenders differently than he did in the Finals? We'll see the young superstar answer that question when they cross paths again.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

There's nothing better than a Western Conference rivalry like this. The Spurs and Thunder faced off five times in the regular season and seven times in the playoffs, with San Antonio coming out on top in 8 of the 12 meetings.

These groups are bringing some new motivation into these matchups next season. The Thunder are looking to take back control of the Western Conference, while the Spurs will try to silence doubters and critics who had a lot to say after their Finals loss.

The energy between these two will be dialed up more than what we've already seen. OKC will be healthier, while San Antonio's identity is different. No longer are they a team that's shocking the basketball world with their early success. They're now a fully established Western Conference superpower with more confidence. The next chapter of this rivalry should be fun.

This is all part of the Spurs' evolution into becoming a future dynasty. When a team like them improves, so does the competition, specifically their biggest rivals. The matchups start to hold more weight, and narratives can shift drastically based on the results. San Antonio must prepare themselves for a war against these teams, whether it's the regular season or the playoffs.

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